Strand treatment



March 10, 1970 R. K. STANLEY STRAND TREATMENT Filed April 6, 1966 RATE012 v SPEED STRING"UP Immsrriowl RUNNING M ra-firm ROBERT K. STANLEY fifl/irgw Uc m Arrow/5m:

United States Patent 3,499,953 STRAND TREATMENT Robert K. Stanley,Media, Pa., assignor to Techniservice Corporation, Lester, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 540,379 'Int.Cl. D01d 5/22, 5/12; D01f 7/06 US. Cl. 264---168 7 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to processing or treatment oftextile strands, concerning especially the production of crimped strandsof synthetic organic polymeric materials, most of which are suitabletherefor.

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a continuousprocess for drawing and crimping textile strands.

Another object is improvement in strand string-up during start-up of acombined-drawing and crimping process.

A further object is continuous extrusion, drawing, crimping, and windupof textile strands.

Other objects of the present invention, together with means and methodsfor attaining the various objects, will be apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying diagrams relating to a preferredembodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 is a Side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of a continuous systemfor extruding, drawing, crimping, and winding up textile strands,according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of strand windup rate (or speed ofstrand windup means) as a function of time, from process start-up orstrand string-up to full operation or running to produce crimped strand.

In general, the objects of this invention are accomplished in acontinuous process for treating textile strands by feeding a textilestrand into a drawing zone at a predetermined rate, drawing the strandtherein and withdrawing it therefrom and feeding it into a crimping zoneat a predetermined rate, crimping the strand in the crimping zone andwithdrawing it therefrom at a predetermined rate. The inventioncomprehends apparatus for use therein and particularly in a continuousextrusion-drawing-crimping-windup process incorporating such steps.

FIG. 1 shows, partly schematically and partly in side elevation,extrusion head 11 from which filaments 5 are extruded to fall toward andbe collected into multi-filament strand by collecting roll 12 aftersolidification into self-supporting form. The strand makes a partialturn about that roll, then at least a partial turn about take-up godet14 after passing in contact with oil roll 13. From the take-up godet,strand 10 passes in contact with oil roll 15 and then makes at least oneand a fraction turns about input godet 16 to a drawing zone between itand draw roll 18, which rotates at a greater surface speed than that ofthe input godet and about which the strand makes at least a full turn.The strand is wrapped also about draw pin 17 therebetween, localizingthere the actual drawing of the strand to increased length.

The drawn strand, designated as 10' to distinguish it from undrawnstrand 10, passes through preheating chamber 21, which has branch 22 forcocurrent injection of steam, hot air, or other fluid, to the nip offeed rolls 23,

24 to which is juxtaposed the entrance to stuffing chamber 25. Part ofthe near wall of the stuffing chamber is cut away to show strandaccumulation 20 inside. From the open exit end of the stufling chamber,crimped strand 10 (so designated to distinguish it from the strand atprevious stages in its formation or treatment) passes about part ofrolls 26 and 27, over helically grooved traversing drive roll 28, andwinds onto package 29 rotated by surface contact with the drive roll.

Nip roll 24 and package 29 are swingably mounted to permit temporaryspacing (shown in broken lines) from the respective adjacent rolls tofailitate introduction of the strand therebetween when starting up theapparatus. Both the preheating and stufiing chambers have their nearwalls pivotally mounted to open (also shown in broken lines) for a. likereason. The strand is normally strung up through the entire system withall the rolls rotating at normal operating speed except rolls 26 and 27,which usually are idler rolls (i.e., undriven), and the traversing driveroll. That drive roll is rotated at the same speed as feed rolls 23, 24while the strand is strung up from the extrusion head to the winduppackage during start-up, and then its speed is reduced gradually untilit is at a predetermined fixed ratio of that of the feed rolls, therebysimilarly reducing the speed of the package, which is allowed to rest onthe drive roll as soon as the strand is strung up onto the package. Thestrand may be aspirated through preheating chamber 21 (left in theclosed position) by introduction of air into branch 22 and presentationof the strand to the chamber entrance, whereupon it will be suckedthereinto and be blown out the opposite end of stuffing chamber 25.

Alternatively, the string-up can be performed with the chamber wallspivoted open (broken lines). In any event, upon completion of thestring-up, the temporarily displaced feed roll is swung back into itsnormal operating location (shown in solid).

Motor M drives collecting roll 12, take-up godet 14, and input godet 16at uniform speed, appropriately matched to the extrusion rate, draw roll18 at a greater speed in accordance with the desired draw ratio (usuallyabout 4 on nylon strands) and feed rolls 23, 24 at the speed of the drawroll, and package drive roll 28 at a lower speed as indicated.Variable-speed transmission 31 is interposed between motor M and drawroll 18, and variable-speed transmission 32 is interposed between themotor and traversing drive roll 28. Mechanical interconnections betweenthe motor and the rolls and/ or transmissions are shown in broken lines.The construction of the interconnecting linkages and of the elements sointerconnected and the controls therefor (not shown) are conventionaland require no further description or illustration.

FIG. 2 shows in graphical form the change in value of the strand winduprate (or windup package or drive roll speed) as a function of time. Atthe beginning of string-up the windup rate equals the crimper feed rate(or crimper feed roll speed) at point A, and no change occurs throughoutstring-up, as indicated by point B and the interconnecting level line.The gradual reduction in windup rate during the transition from start-upto normal running conditions is indicated by an ogee-shaped curve frompoint B to point C, designating a lower windup speed or rate value thatcontinues unchanged. Of course, the windup rate can be altered furtherat will in the event of a change in feed rate, as in the instance of achange in draw ratio, or if a different crimp level is desired at thesame feed rate or draw ratio.

FIG. 3 shows, in side elevation, aspirating device or sucker gun 35useful in stringing up the strand by sucking it into intake 36, whichforms venturi 37, shown in dotted lines within body 38. Air blown intobranch 39, to which is connected a pressurized source (not shown) bytube 40, exhausts through the smaller end of the device, to which isconnected collecting net or bag 41. One strand collected therein duringstart-up is cut 01f from the rest of the strand once string-up iscompleted and is subsequently treated as waste. The structure andoperation of such a device can be readily found in the art or be devisedherefrom by a person having normal skill therein. The same is true ofthe components of the system illustrated in FIG. 1. If a back-pressureelement is used in the stuffing chamber it should be adapted to leavingstring-up clearance, as is the gear of wheel-like element so used inList et al. Patent 3,027,619, for example. Also especially useful hereinis the long chamber type of stuffer crimper, lacking any addedback-pressure element, disclosed in my copending patent application Ser.No. 401,160, filed Oct. 2, 1964.

The process of this invention is particularly advantageous infacilitating start-up and reducing waste produced therein. The productthereof is noted for its high degree of uniformity at any desired crimplevel. Although a preferred embodiment of the process and apparatus hasbeen described, the invention is merely exemplified rather than limitedthereby and is defined in the following claims.

The claimed invention:

1. In a continuous treating process for textile strands comprisingfeeding a textile strand into a drawing zone at a predetermined rate,drawing the strand therein and withdrawing it and feeding it into acrimping zone at a predetermined rate, crimping the strand in thecrimping zone and withdrawing it therefrom at a predetermined rate, thestep of stringing up the strand therethrough wherein the initial rate ofwithdrawal from the crimping zone equals the rate of feed into thecrimping zone.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the rate of withdrawal of the strandis reduced gradually upon comletion of string-up to a lower rate.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the lower rate of withdrawal of thestrand from the crimping zone after completion of string-up remainsfixed with regard to the rate of feed into the crimping zone.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the crimped strand is wound intopackage form at the rate of withdrawal of the strand from the crimpingzone.

5. Continuous extrusion drawing crimping windup process for textilestrands comprising extruding a fiberforming composition into continuousstrand form, forwarding the resultant strand into a drawing zone at apredetermined rate, drawing the strand to increased length in thedrawing zone and feeding the drawn strand therefrom into a crimping zoneat a predetermined rate, stuffercrimping the drawn strand in thecrimping zone and withdrawing the crimped strand therefrom at apredetermined rate, and winding up the strand at the last mentionedrate, including the step of starting the process up by equalizing thestrand windup rate with the rate of feed into the crimping zone untilthe strand is strung up from extrusion to and including windup, andwherein the windup rate is reduced gradually thereafter to a fixed loweroperating rate.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the strand is drawn to at least aboutfour times its initial length and wherein the operating windup rate isat most about eighty percent of the rate of feed of the strand into thecrimping zone.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the strand composition consistsessentially of nylon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,917,806 12/1959 Spence et al.264168 X 3,062,611 11/1962 Keen 264-168 X 3,073,670 1/1963 Notarbatoloet al. 3,106,763 10/1963 Reeder et al. 3,134,833 5/1964 Ciprorin et al.3,199,281 8/1965 Maerov et al. 3,213,171 10/1965 Kilian. 3,259,9397/1966 Skalko et al. 3,271,943 9/1966 Williams 264-168 X 3,316,6125/1967 Stump 264-168 X 3,347,960 10/1967 Fenley 264- 3,386,142 7/1966Stanley et al 264-168 X 3,279,025 10/1966 Stanley et al 281 X FOREIGNPATENTS 762,836 7/1967 Canada.

JULIUS FROME, Primary Examiner J. H. WOO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R.

